Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer

A better way to phrase it is not manual, but "edge of the envelope."

Whether in a 1900 or other 121 op, airline flying is almost exclusively middle of the envelope. Training events are designed to return to the "security" of the center of the envelope.

The (flawed) counter-argument for ab initio or multiplace license crews is that the military gets away with less than 300 hours to put a guy in a fighter or heavy.

The difference? They spent between 6 months and a year and a half deliberately working to the edge of the envelope, and staying there. (And...they were in a program that if they were marginal, they were eliminated).

Guys who work the civilian rout will do a lot of that edge-of-envelope flying as a CFI, banner tow, jumpers, flying in lousy weather with underpowered airplanes and no radar...

Part 121 is not a place to hone your skills. Very little changes, skill-wise, once you get in the comfy chair of aviation.